Hun Sen Urges Swift and Fair Resolution of Land Disputes

On July 7, 2026, Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen met with approximately 500 provincial, municipal, district, and commune council members and leaders of various departments in Mondulkiri province. This meeting was part of Hun Sen's ongoing tour to engage with local administrative officials across the country, marking his 17th such mission and the 20th province visited. Mondulkiri province, located about 382 kilometers east of the capital Phnom Penh, features three important bilateral border gates in Keo Seima, Ou Reang, and Picheada districts, with another in Koh Nhek district not yet operational. Under the development policies of the Royal Government, both under Hun Sen's leadership and the current leadership of Prime Minister Hun Manet, Mondulkiri province has seen remarkable development. The province boasts vast land and fertile soil, rich in nutrients beneficial for agriculture and agro-industry, especially for rubber, cashew nuts, and other important crops. Currently, agricultural and agro-industrial production covers approximately 123,685 hectares, yielding about 524,357 tons annually. Rubber is cultivated on 43,912 hectares, with 22,786 hectares being tapped for latex, producing around 29,304 tons. Cashew nuts are grown on 11,165 hectares, with a total yield of 10,328 tons. The tourism sector is also developing, with a total of 105 tourist attractions including waterfalls, scenic landscapes, and grasslands. Tourism services include hotels, resorts, bungalows, motels, guesthouses, restaurants, and food stalls. In the mining sector, 18 companies hold 21 licenses. Currently, Renaissance Minerals (Cambodia) has been operating a gold ore refining business since 2021, processing over 18 tons of gold to date. According to Ek Reach Chea Thireth, spokesperson for Samdech Techo, the purpose of Samdech Techo's visit to meet with administrative officials is to implement and strengthen accountability between the Senate and the electorate, promoting transparency and enhancing the effectiveness of local work. It also aims to foster closer relationships with local authorities and remind local officials to diligently fulfill their duties and provide excellent public services to the citizens. On this occasion, Samdech Techo Hun Sen expressed his pleasure in returning to meet with the leaders and officials of Mondulkiri province again. He praised and highly valued the provincial leadership, officials, and local working groups for their past efforts. He reminded all officials, especially commune councilors, to continue diligently performing their roles and responsibilities in serving the nation and the people, particularly by providing necessary and essential services to citizens quickly, promptly, and effectively. Samdech Techo also encouraged and supported the strengthening of tax and customs revenue collection efficiency, along with strict measures to prevent tax evasion or undeclared business activities, in order to increase national revenue. He reminded all officials to continue maintaining national stability and to focus on preserving public security and order by continuing to implement the "Safe Village, Commune" policy, including cracking down on various offenses such as robbery, theft, drug trafficking, and technological crimes. Samdech Techo also stated that authorities at all levels must continue to pay attention to veterans and retirees, as they have significantly contributed to the nation's development. Therefore, they should be cared for through visits and the organization of various programs to prevent them from feeling isolated. He reiterated that the Association of Veterans and Retirees does not encompass retired officials from the Ministry of Education, as that ministry has its own association established prior to the formation of the Association of Veterans and Retirees. Samdech also advised authorities to focus on resolving land disputes for citizens swiftly and effectively, especially through out-of-court settlements, without bias towards any party. Samdech Techo also appealed to authorities at all levels to strengthen the protection, conservation, and prevention of all natural resource offenses, particularly in Mondulkiri province, concerning mining operations, to avoid environmental damage and to help preserve natural resources for the future. Samdech Techo reminded all officials to pay close attention to local work, to avoid causing dissatisfaction among the people, and to remember that officials are not the masters of the people. Samdech Techo also urged the Mondulkiri provincial authorities to enhance border cooperation with Vietnam to promote economic and trade relations between the two countries. Finally, Samdech Techo Hun Sen praised officials at all levels in Mondulkiri province for their cooperation in developing the province to achieve continuous progress and wished all civil servants happiness and prosperity. Rights Reserved: Sothly